Cleaners for fluids, particularly gases



June 20, 1967 J. T. RYMER E AL CLEANERS FOR FLUIDS PARTICULARLY GASES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27, 1964 FIG.1.

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CLEANERS FOR FLUIDS, PARTICULARLY GASES Filed July 27, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 20, 1967 J. T. RYMER ET AL 3,325,978

CLEANERS FOR FLUIDS, PARTICULARLY GASES Filed July 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 [v/v U 1 United States Patent 3,325,978 CLEANERS FOR FLUIDS, PARTICULARLY GASES Jesse Talbot Ryrner, Nailsworth, and Stanley Paul Witchell, Llanfoist, England, assignors to Coopers Mechanical Joints Limited, Abergavenny, England Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,264 Claims priority, application Great Britain, July 30, 1963, 30,192/63 Claims. (Cl. 55294) This invention relates to cleaners for fluids, particularly for air and other gases.

According to the specification of applicants copending US. Patent No. 3,234,714, a filter element for the removal of dust, grit, or other finely divided particles from a fluid includes a pervious Wall through which the fluid passes to deposit the impurities on one face of the wall, and a number of ducts covering and opening into the opposite face of the wall so as simultaneously to receive the fluid and deliver it to an outlet location on the element, the ducts being arranged also to receive gas pulses at the said location and to deliver them, in the reverse direction to the normal fluid flow, to the associated areas of wall and thereby cleanse the wall of impurities. In the preferred construction, the pervious wall is in the form of a tubular member formed with longitudinal pleats moulded at their ends into caps, and the ducts consist of tapered scoops distributed round the inside of the tubular member, the scoops being open to the wall along their lengths and tapered towards the wall from their open to their closed ends.

The aforesaid specification describes an air cleaner including the said filter element and furnished with a cluster of nozzles for the delivery of pulses of fluid into the scoops, as many nozzles as there are scoops being provided and the outlet aperture of each nozzle being substantially smaller than the area of the adjacent mouth of the associated scoop.

An object of the present invention is to provide a more positive application of the air blasts to the scoops.

According to the present invention, a cleaner for fluids, for use with a filter element having a series of scoops through which the cleaned fluid is delivered and through which pulses of fluid for cleaning the elements are delivered in the reverse direction, is provided with a nozzle for circulating over the ends of the scoops and for delivering the pulses through the scoops in sequence, a motor for causing the nozzle so to circulate, means for positioning the element in position for the scoops to receive the pulses in sequence, and a manifold arranged to receive cleaned fluid from the scoops. Preferably the motor is driven by the cleaned fluid and is arranged to move the nozzle in steps from scoop to scoop and to control the delivery of the pulses through the scoops.

In order that the invention can be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, air cleaners in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of air cleaner,

FIGURE 2 is a plan of part of the air cleaner of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation of upper portions of a second form of air cleaner.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the air cleaner includes a circular manifold 1 having a cylindrical side wall 2 with 3|3 25"978' Patented June 20, 1967 an integral top wall 3. The bottom of the manifold 1 is closed by a plate 4, formed with a comparatively large central opening 5 and provided with a skirt 4a. A cylindrical filter element 6, similar to that described in the aforesaid specification, is attached to the plate 4 by nuts 6a on studs 6b and is located inside the skirt 4a. An outlet duct 2a is fixed to the wall 2. In practice this outlet duct is connected to the air inlet of an internal combustion engine, which draws air from the space between the skirt 4a and the outer periphery of the filter element 6, then through the filter element 6 and scoops (described below) into the manifold 1, and through the outlet duct 2a.

The active portion of the filter element 6 consists of a tubular member in the form of a cylinder 7 having a pleated wall 7a (FIGURE 2) of tightly woven wool which may have nylon added. This Woolen fabric may be stiffened by being sandwiched between layers of Wire gauze. The top and bottom of the cylinder are sealed respectively into a top cap 8 and into a bottom cap 8a. So as to prevent air from finding its way between the top of the cap 8 and the plate 4, the cap 8 is sealed with an annular ring 9, which bears against the plate 4, and with a circular shoulder 10 that fits in the opening 5. The portion of the cap 8 within the shoulder 10 constitutes the outlet location of the filter element 6, this location being formed with a frusto-conical surface 11 round which the cap 8 is formed with a ring of equidistantly spaced openings 12.

The openings 12 are in register respectively with the upper ends of an equal number of scoops 13 distributed round the inside surface of the cylinder 7. Each scoop 13 has a U-sh-aped horizontal cross-section (FIGURE 2) with its inner curved surface tapering (FIGURE 1) in a radially outward direction from top to bottom of the filter element. Along the major portion of its length, each scoop has the edges 13a (FIGURE 2) of its two limbs lying on vertical lines located between pleats 7a so that the limbs of each scoop are in contact with the limbs of the two adjacent scoops, and so that the whole of the filter cylinder 7 is covered internally by the scoops. The tops of the limbs of the scoops are recessed at 14a so as to provide vertical edges that are embraced by' an annular metal flange 14 secured to the cap 8. The top edge of each scoop 13 is moulded into the cap 8 around the associated one of the openings 12, which constitutes the mouth of the scoop. The bottom of the curved surface of each scoop merges into an arcuate flange fixed to the bottom cap 8a which is, of course, formed so as to prevent air from flowing straight through the centre of the filter element 6.

Normally the air, cleaned by passing through the pleated wall of the cylinder 7 passes upwards through all but one of the scoops 13 and through the associated opening 12 into the manifold 1. The exception is the scoop 13 with which a nozzle 15, that is rotated in steps about the axis of the filter element 6, happens to be in register. Pulses of scavenging air are delivered through this nozzle into the scoops in rotation, so that the pleats associated with each scoop periodically receive pulses of air on their inner surfaces which dislodge dust, grit or other finely divided particles that are deposited outside the pleats as a result of the normal air flow.

The mechanism for delivering the pulses of air in sequence to the scoops 13 will now be described. This mechanism is carried by a plate 16 that covers an opening 17 in the top wall 3 of the manifold 1. The nozzle is formed with an arm 18 that is keyed to a shaft 19 rotatably mounted in a thickened portion 20 of the plate 16. This portion is for-med with a ring of passages 21 allocated respectively to the openings 12. In each operative position of the nozzle 15, the nozzle provides a continuous passage from one of the passages 21 to the associated opening 12, the nozzle 15 being formed at its upper and lower ends with surfaces that provide slight clearances with respect to the bottom surface of the plate 16 and the frusto-coni-cal surface 11 of the cap 8.

Fixed to the shaft 19 is a ported member in the form of a port plate 22, formed with a single port 23, arranged to rotate over the top surface of the portion 20, in a cylindrical casing 24 closed by a cover plate 25. A ratchet wheel 26 is alsofixed to the shaft 19 within the casing 24. The ratchet wheel 26 is turned periodically by a pawl 27 fixed to one end of a rod 28, to the other end of which is fixed an abutment member 29 for one end of a compression spring 30, the outer end of which bears against the casing 24. Thus, the out-er end of the rod 28 is maintained by the spring 30 in a central recess in the crown 33 of a piston having a skirt 34. Also, when permitted to do so, the spring 30 keeps the crown 33 in engagement with a head 35 of a cylinder 36, in which the piston can slide. The cylinder 36 is interposed between the head 35 and the casing 24, the head 35 being formed at the end of a tubular member 37 fixed to the casing 24. The head 35 is formed with an inlet duct 38 communicating with a port 39 closed by the piston crown 33, when the piston is at its outer-most position as shown in FIGURE 1. A compressed air reservoir (not shown) is connected to the inlet duct 38. This reservoir is fed continuously by a pump driven by the engine that receives the air cleaned by the air cleaner. The inlet air for the pump draws in clean air received from the manifold 1.

When the pressure in the reservoir reaches a predetermined value, the pressure of the portion of the crown 33 that covers the port 39 is sufficient to over-come the spring 30 and move the piston inwardly. This permits the air pressure to act on the full area of the piston crown 33, and consequently move the piston against the increas-.

ing spring stress to an extent suflicient to uncover ports 40 in the cylinder 36. The air blast escapes through these ports 40 and passes along the space between the cylinder 36 and the tubular member 37 to a port 41 in the casing 24. The air blast leaves the casing 24 through'the port 23 in the port plate 22 and through the selected passage 21, the nozzle 15 and the corresponding opening 12, to the associated scoop 13 so as to clean the arc of the filter cylinder 7 embraced by the scoop.

During this phase of the operation, a detent (not shown) prevents reverse movement of the ratchet wheel 26, while the pawl 27 snaps past one of the ratchet teeth. When the pressure in the reservoir falls sufiiciently to allow the spring 30 to return the piston to the position of FIGURE 1, the pawl 27 acts on the aforesaid ratchet tooth to bring the port 23 and the nozzle 15 into register with the next passage 21 and with the associated opening 12. The pressure in the reservoir then builds up once more and the cycle is repeated.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the casing 24 is divided into compartments 42, 43 by a horizontal partition 44. The port plate 22' is omitted and the shaft 19 is mounted in bearings respectively in the partition 44 and in a spider 45 spanning the bottom of the compartment 43. The top of the nozzle 15 is concentric withthe shaft 19, to which the nozzle is fixed by means of a hub 46 carried in the top of the nozzle by a spider 47.

The port 41 opens into the lower compartment 43 and the ratchet mechanism is contained in the upper compartment 42. Thus, each time an air blast passes between the cylinder 36 and the tubular member 37, it finds its way immediately through the spiders 45, 47 into the nozzle 15 1.} and thence into the one of the scoops 13 with which the nozzle 15 is in register.

It will be seen that in FIGURE 3 the central portion of the cap 8, containing the openings 12, has been omitted, and that the upper edges 48 of the scoops 13 are con siderably bevelled and approach more closely than in FIGURE 1 the axis of the filter cylinder 7. The plans of these upper edges 48 are, in fact, more clearly V- shaped than U-shaped. The lower end of the nozzle 15 is shaped to conform to each of these edges, a small clearance being provided between the periphery of the nozzle and the adjacent edge 48. This enlargement of the outlet of the nozzle 15 and of the inlet to each scoop 13 increases the efficiency of the assembly, in that the kinetic energy of the air pulse undergoes a considerable conversion to pressure energy with increased effect in cleaning the filter cylinder 7. In addition, the enlargement of the upper end of each scoop 13 reduces the restriction of the cleaned air passing from the scoop to the manifold 1 and enables the air cleaner to be used for higher overall air flows.

What we claim is:

1. A cleaner for the removal of impurities from a fluid stream, comprising, incombination, a filter element having a tubular member consisting of a continuous pervious filter wall having a central axis formed with spaced radial longitudinally extending pleats, two caps moulded respectively to the ends of said tubular member to cover the ends of said pleats, and a plurality of scoops distributed around the inside of said tubular member so as to cover one face thereof, each of said scoops extending longitudinally from one of said caps substantially to the other of said caps and being open to said wall along its length for communication therebetween, and each of said scoops being open at one end and closed at the other end, and tapered so that its cross-sectional area diminishes continuously from its open end to its closed end, the cleaner further including a nozzle mounted for rotation about said central axis upstream of said scoops, said nozzle having an inlet end and said nozzle having an outlet end of substantially the .same shape and size as the open end of each of said scoops, means rotatably mounting said nozzle for rotation to successively traverse the open ends of said scoops, a motor means connected to said nozzle operative to traverse said nozzle successively into alignment with each scoop and means adapted to control the delivery of fluid pulses through said nozzle and along the aligned scoop and simultaneously through said filter Wall, and a manifold mounted in communication with the open ends of said scoopes to receive cleaned fluid passing through said pervious wall and along said scoops.

2. A cleaner accordang to claim 1 in which said nozzle I has an outlet end which closely engages the open end of each of said scoops adopted to prevent substantial pressure loss upon delivery of gas pulses through said nozzle to the respective scoops.

3. A cleaner according to claim Lincluding a ratchet wheel fixed to said nozzle, a reciprocable pawl for rotating said ratchet wheel and nozzle'in steps, said motor means being positioned to reciprocate said pawl.

4. A cleaner according to claim 1 including means defining a chamber having one wall formed with a series of passages, said passages being allocated to said scoops and located in a circular pattern, the inlet end of said nozzle positionedadjacent said passages and mounted to traverse each of said passages in succession, a rotary member mounted inside said chamber and connected to said nozzle to rotate therewith, said rotary member being mounted adjacent said passages and having a port therein which will align with said passages upon rotation to allow a fluid pulse to pass through the passage into said nozzle and through the respective scoop for cleaning a respective portion of said pervious filter wall.

5. A cleaner according to claim 3, including a com- References Cited partment means, the inlet end of said nozzle being UNITED STATES PATENTS mounted ad acent sald compartment means to rotate 1n 2,800,976 7/1957 Pellon 55 302 sealing engagement with one Wall of sa1d compartment, 2 850112 9/1958 D m 55 287 and said ratchet wheel being rotatably mounted outside 5 319399O 7/1965 Smith 55 294 an opposite wall of said compartment means, a shaft passing through said compartment means forming a FOREIGN PATENTS driving connection between said ratchet wheel and said 880,043 10/1961 Great Britain. nozzle, and means adapted for feeding the fluid pulses 1,360,904 4/1964 r into said compartment means, and said compartment 10 I means being formed with openings which are in continu- HARRY TH0RNTON "nary Exammen ous communication with the inlet end of said nozzle. B. NOZICK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLEANER FOR THE REMOVAL OF IMPURITIES FROM A FLUID STREAM, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FILTER ELEMENT HAVING A TUBULAR MEMBER CONSISTING OF A CONTINUOUS PERVIOUS FILTER WALL HAVING A CENTRAL AXIS FORMED WITH SPACED RADIAL LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PLEATS, TWO CAPS MOULDED RESPECTIVELY TO THE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO COVER THE ENDS OF SAID PLEATS, AND A PLURALITY OF SCOOPS DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE INSIDE OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER SO AS TO COVER ONE FACE THEREOF, EACH OF SID SCOOPS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM ONE OF SAID CAPS SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE OTHER OF SAID CAPS AND BEING OPEN TO SAID WALL ALONG ITS LENGTH FOR COMMUNICATION THEREBETWEEN, AND EACH OF SAID SCOOPS BEING OPEN AT ONE END CLOSED AT THE OTHER END, AND TAPERED SO THAT ITS CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA DIMINISHES CONTINUOUSLY FROM ITS OPEN END TO ITS CLOSED END, THE CLEANER FURTHER INCLUDING A NOZZLE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID CENTRAL AXIS UPSTREAM OF SAID SCOOPS, SAID NOZZLE HAVING AN INLET END AND SAID NOZZLE HAVING AN OUTLET END OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SHAPE AND SIZE AS THE OPEN END OF EACH OF SAID SCOOPS, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID NOZZLE FOR ROTATION TO SUCCESSIVELY TRAVERSE THE OPEN ENDS OF SAID SCOOPS, A MOTOR MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID NOZZLE OPERATE TO TRAVERSE SAID NOZZLE SUCCESSIVELY INTO ALIGNMENT WITH EACH SCOOP AND MEANS ADAPTED TO CONTROL THE DELIVERY OF FLUID PULSES THROUGH SAID NOZZLE 